News and Events => Political and Legal News => Topic started by: Shana A on September 16, 2010, 07:22:00 AM Return to Full Version

Title: Australia Ditches Ban On Transpeople Serving In Military
Post by: Shana A on September 16, 2010, 07:22:00 AM
Australia Ditches Ban On Transpeople Serving In Military

09/15/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/09/australia-ditches-ban-on-transpeople-serving-in-military/ (http://lezgetreal.com/2010/09/australia-ditches-ban-on-transpeople-serving-in-military/)

The Australian Defense Force was the last government agency in that nation to fire employees for being transgender and transitioning.  That has now come to an end ans Chief of the Defense Force Angus Houston revoked the policy that effectively banned transgender servicemembers.  According to the LGBT servicemembers referral group DEFGLIS, the military's commanders were less than understanding and welcoming.  The move comes eighteen years after the ADF repealed the ban on lesbians and gays serving in the Australian military, but the nation still trails behind Canada, Israel, Czech Republic, Spain and Thailand which support their transgender soldiers through diversity programs.

Australia is still ahead of the United States which does not allow transgender soldiers to serve and does not allow lesbians and gays to serve openly.

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Australia to Allow Transgender Soldiers
by Kilian Melloy
Wednesday Sep 15, 2010

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=110382 (http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=110382)

While the United States grapples with the question of allowing openly gay soldiers to serve in its armed forces, the Australian has removed a final barrier to admitting sexual minorities into the ranks of its servicemembers by striking down a ban on transgendered troops.

Australia has allowed gays to serve openly for eighteen years. The ban on transgendered soldiers ended on Sept. 13 with a directive issued by Australian Defense Force head Angus Houston, reported Australian news site Crikey.com on Sept. 15. The site said that the change was implemented as a result of a transgendered soldier being dismissed from the service.

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Australia Drops Trans Military Ban
By Advocate.com Editors

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/09/15/Australia_Drops_Trans_Military_Ban/ (http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/09/15/Australia_Drops_Trans_Military_Ban/)

A member of the Australian military's desire to transition has led to the repeal of the nation's ban on transgender service members.

The announcement from Australian Defence Force chief Angus Houston (pictured) came Monday, 18 years after the force repealed the ban on gay and lesbian troops, according to Crikey.com.